I am Brave and Beautiful - a beauty movement that is sweeping the globe. Colbie Caillat started it with her recent song and video called TRY. My blogging friend Megan of Brassy Apple wanted to push this movement along and invited women from all over to share what they looked like without make up and I joined in!! Colbie's song says, "Take your make up off. Let your hair down... Look into the mirror at yourself, Do you like you? Cause I like you... "

Megan and her friend Cobi of Peacefrom6pieces have been the team behind this whole project. Their worldwide vision included creating their own video inspired by the song TRY. The talent of Robbins Creative made it possible for them to pull it off. You have to click play and see the beauty and bravery displayed and you might even recognize a few faces in there.

Me along with 101+ other blogging women from different backgrounds, religions, ethnicities, ages, shapes and sizes have decided to be Brave and Beautiful! You can join in this movement too by sharing what you look like without makeup on. You don't need a blog either! Just tag your photo with #IamBraveAndBeautiful on Instgram and search the hashtag to see who else has joined in. ALSO, if you tag it with a second hashtag - #ColbieTRY we just might be able to get Colbie Caillat's attention since she was the inspiration behind it all!

Are you brave and beautiful? I am, here I go!

The above photo was taken at a My Sister's Tee (my tee company!) photo shoot. Professional photographer, makeup artist and stylist. The photo below was taken Friday morning after getting my three kids to school and waking up early from a piercing pain caused by a lingering corneal abrasion (a cut on my eye ball) that comes and goes (I really should see a doctor). I wanted to go outside to take the picture but when I tried I couldn't open my eyes, bummer. So I stood inside my house and opened the front door for light. At least I did my hair yesterday ;)

Growing up my dad constantly went out of his way to tell me I was smart. I'm sure he told me I was pretty sometimes (I don't remember), but he constantly told me I was smart. I believed him. He was a good dad. As an adult he told me that he did it on purpose because he wanted me to understand that how I look isn't nearly as important as who I am. I am happy that when my little girl cries because she doesn't think she's pretty I can honestly tell her that being pretty isn't important. What's important is who she is and what she does. Our choices define us.

Don't stop here. Get clicking around - its a blog hop! Below are more brave and beautiful women bearing more than their natural beauty. They each have a little bit of their heart to share with you. Some get very personal. Some share stories. For some this was very hard to do yet they gathered their courage and did it anyway. We hope as you click around (and YES pin these different posts!) you will feel the importance of it, the empowering effect it has and that it encourages you in some way.

>>>>>>>Important info! Blog Hops often have glitches the first day. If the link has an ERROR, simply click on the HOME button for each site, or google the blog name next to the link, and you should see their brave and beautiful post there. Links will be updated as soon as possible.<<<<<<<<<<<<